<p>I'm very interested in becoming an aerospace (aeronautical) engineer. However, I've heard in a lot of places that it is a better idea to major in mechanical engineering because it is a broader degree and has more job opportunities. The thing is, I have also seen that people with aerospace engineering degrees are hired in other fields besides aerospace because of their knowledge of aerodynamics and such. Also, considering that the first two years of both aerospace major and mechanical engineer are supposedly extremely similar, does it really matter which I decide to major in? To me, it seems like even if I major in aerospace engineering (in which I have greater interest), there will still be plentiful job opportunities, even though mechanical is definitely the broader field. Thoughts?</p>
<p>It does, but that is only really relevant if you are unsure about working in the aerospace industry. Otherwise the decision comes down to what sort of job you want within that industry.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>True, but this happens far less than, say, mechanical engineers working in diverse industries or electrical engineers working in diverse industries or any of the broader disciplines working in diverse industries.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, and here’s why: at many schools, mechanical engineering is so popular that there is a cap on how many people are admitted as transfers, even from other engineering departments at the same school. You may have a hard time making such a transfer if you don’t have absolutely premium grades. There are some schools where this is the case with aerospace, too, but it generally isn’t as common as with mechanical departments in my experience. Check with the schools you are interested in individually to figure out how it works there.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There are many more job opportunities overall for mechanical engineers. There are, however, many more mechanical engineers than there are aerospace engineers. When all is said and done, the employability of each degree will be similar as dictated by the market. It really just comes down to how sure you are that you want to work in the aerospace industry and in which part of it you are most interested.</p>